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07/06/2022 08:29 AMIt has been a very quiet number of weeks from all officials and parties involved on all sides of the contentious debate over the ultimate fate of the 255 plus-acre parcel of property known as Deer Lake Camp in Killingworth. The current status of the property is unknown.
The parcel was owned by the CT Yankee Council, an affiliate of Scouting America—which is now the official name of Boy Scouts of America, formerly BSA—up until some point in early May. It was supposed to have been sold to a Council board member at the end of April.
However, no indication as to whether that sale ever took place can be confirmed, and no information of the current state of negotiations by those hoping to preserve the acreage, is being commented on by anyone associated with the deal.
Some town officials and nonprofit members, concerned about the prospect of the property being developed and who hope to preserve the acreage for some sort of public use, have said off the record that they hope a deal can be reached. Due to the sensitive nature of the negotiations they said no public comments are forthcoming.
The sale was extremely controversial for several reasons. Some critics said it would be contrary for Scouting American, an organization that supports respect for and preservation of outdoor spaces, to sell the property for development.
Also, some town and state officials raised questions about the sale of the property to an insider, a Council Board member.
After the concerns were raised and brought to the attention of Connecticut State Attorney General William Tong, his office said it would look into the matter earlier this spring. The council is also being sued by a Madison resident who is alleging violations of a contract that created the Richard English Bird Sanctuary on the property back in 1985 and the ongoing acceptance of large annual donations for that purpose since that time.
Tong’s office has not issued any update or response to their on-going inquiries.
The lawsuit filed in May by Madison resident, David Stephenson, is seeking the court’s opinion as to whether the property or at least part of it can even be sold after being designated a bird sanctuary. Stephenson’s suit alleges it is a violation of state laws concerning non-profit obligations and requirements when accepting donations.
Despite a deadline of early May for the closing of the sale, no word has come from either side as to whether that sale to Council Board member Margaret Streicker, ever actually took place, or on any progress the two sides have made in reaching a deal that would potentially preserve the parcel.
Off the record, officials involved in the negotiations say they are reluctant to comment because the nature of the discussions are so fragile that they do not want any public statements to interfere in any possible deal. The Yankee Council has only issued one statement back in early winter on the matter and has not responded to requests for comment.
The potential buyer and Board member Margaret Streicker has also refrained from comment about the current situation, only to say that negotiations are on-going and that no deal has been yet been reached.
Fundraisers and even civic improvement projects continue at the property as part of the effort to save it from development.